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Education Workgroup

Upcoming Meetings

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Scope and Purpose

The goal of the Education Workgroup is to have every student in the region graduate environmentally literate having participated in meaningful watershed educational experiences in elementary, middle, and high school that were supported by teachers who have received professional development in environmental education and schools that are models of environmental sustainability. The Education Workgroup provides a forum for cross-jurisdictional coordination and support on all aspects of environmental education with an emphasis on:

  • Increasing Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) and other place-based, outdoor education
  • Supporting training for teachers and environmental education professionals in content, pedagogy, and outdoor-learning techniques related to environmental topics
  • Encouraging green infrastructure and operations on school grounds
  • Supporting federal, state, and regional environmental literacy planning, including providing an ongoing forum to collaborate on the goals and objectives of the federal Executive Order and the nonprofit community Regional Roundtable.

The Education Workgroup is tasked with evaluating and recommending policies related to PK-12 bay education, maintaining the Bay Backpack website, and tracking state implementation of the MWEE in elementary, middle, and high school. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office also convenes a biennial Environmental Literacy Summit on behalf of the Workgroup to advance environmental literacy activities in the region.

Projects and Resources

Environmental Literacy Summit

The mid-Atlantic region is leading the nation in implementing sound policy that ensures our students will graduate environmentally literate citizens.  To advance environmental literacy in the region, the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office convenes a biennial Environmental Literacy Summit on behalf of the Workgroup.  These summits provide an important forum for dialogue, collaboration, and coordination between federal, state, and non-governmental leaders about the future of equitable environmental education in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

  • 2019 Environmental Literacy Summit Materials
  • 2017 Environmental Literacy Summit Materials
  • 2016 Environmental Literacy Summit Materials

Environmental Literacy Forum

The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office hosts training forums to build the skills of educators to plan and implement Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) and sustainable school programming at the classroom or school district level. This allows educators to better understand, advocate for, and deliver these important programs that contribute to the Environmental Literacy outcomes of the watershed agreement.

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Publications

  • Stakeholder Interview Report School Recognition Programs and BMPs on School Grounds

    This report presents findings on the implementation of BMPs on school grounds, the integration of BMPs in student and community learning, and the influence of sustainability recognition programs. Through a series of...

  • Facilitator's Guide to MWEE Training

    A companion text to the Educator's Guide to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience to support effective MWEE professional learning experiences for teachers and educators.

  • Educator's Guide to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE)

    The cornerstone of the Environmental Literacy Goal of the 2014 Watershed Agreement is providing teacher-supported meaningful watershed educational experiences --MWEEs-- in elementary, middle, and high school. This guide has...

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Other Links

  • Bay Backpack

    The Education Workgroup's teacher resource website is THE source for Chesapeake Bay and environmental education resources, lesson plans, field studies, trainings, and funding information

  • Watershed Agreement

    • Environmental Literacy Goal

      • Student
      • Sustainable Schools
      • Environmental Literacy Planning
  • Members

    • Shannon Sprague (Chair), NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office


      Manager, Environmental Literacy [National Marine Fisheries Service]

      Address:
      410 Severn Avenue
      Suite 107-A
      Annapolis Maryland 21403

      • Email: shannon.sprague@NOAA.GOV
      • Phone: (410) 267-5664
      • Download VCard
    • Tom Ackerman (Chair), Chesapeake Bay Foundation


      Vice President for Education

      Address:
      Philip Merrill Environmental Center
      6 Herndon Avenue
      Annapolis Maryland 21403

      • Email: TAckerman@savethebay.cbf.org
      • Download VCard
    • Elise Trelegan (Coordinator), NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office


      Chesapeake B-WET Program Coordinator

      Address:
      904 South Morris St.
      Oxford Maryland 21654

      • Email: elise.trelegan@noaa.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Olivia Wisner (Staffer), Chesapeake Research Consortium


      Fostering Chesapeake Stewardship Goal Implementation Team Staffer

      Address:
      410 Severn Ave
      Annapolis Maryland 21403

      • Email: wisnero@chesapeake.org
      • Phone: (410) 260-2486
      • Download VCard
    • Sarah Brzezinski, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES)


      Outreach Coordinator

      Address:
      Post Office Box 38
      146 Williams Street
      Solomons Maryland 20688

      • Email: brzezins@umces.edu
      • Download VCard
    • Angel Burns, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control


      Chief of Interpretation

      Address:
      89 Kings Highway
      Dover Delaware 19901

      • Email: Angel.Burns@delaware.gov
      • Download VCard
    • David Christopher, Delaware Sea Grant


      Marine Education Specialist

      Address:
      700 Pilottown Rd
      Lewes Delaware 19958

      • Email: dmchrist@udel.edu
      • Download VCard
    • Jemima Clark, Washington College


      Education Program Manager

      Address:
      485 S. Cross Street
      Semans-Griswold Environmental Hall
      Chestertown Maryland 21620

      • Email: jclark5@washcoll.edu
      • Download VCard
    • Susan Cox, U.S. Forest Service (USFS)


      Conservation Education Coordinator

      Address:
      271 Mast Road
      Durham New Hampshire 03824

      • Email: susan.m.cox@usda.gov
      • Phone: (603) 868-7706
      • Download VCard
    • Patricia Doan, District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)


      Environmental Program Specialist

      Address:
      1200 First Street NE
      Washington District of Columbia 20002

      • Email: patricia.doan@dc.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Cassie Doty, UMCES Appalachian Laboratory


      Education Coordinator

      Address:
      301 Braddock Road
      Frostburg Maryland 21532-2307

      • Email: cdoty@al.umces.edu
      • Download VCard
    • Tara Drennan, Chesapeake Bay Trust


      Senior Program Officer

      Address:
      108 Severn Ave
      Annapolis Maryland 21403

      • Email: tdrennan@cbtrust.org
      • Download VCard
    • Pri Ekanayake, District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)


      Environmental Education Specialist

      Address:
      1200 First Street NE
      5th Floor
      Washington District of Columbia 20002

      • Email: pri.ekanayake@dc.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Vicki Fenwick-Judy, Experience Learning, Inc.


      Executive Director

      Address:
      18 Woodlands Way
      Circleville West Virginia 26804

      • Email: vfenwick@experience-learning.org
      • Download VCard
    • Suzie Gilley, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries


      Wildlife Education Coordinator / Project WILD State Coordinator

      Address:
      7870 Villa Park Drive
      Box 90778
      Henrico Virginia 23228-0778

      • Email: suzie.gilley@dgif.virginia.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Kirsten Jackson, Maryland State Department of Education


      Environmental Literacy Specialist, Science

      Address:
      200 W. Baltimore Street
      Baltimore Maryland 21201

      • Email: kirsten.jackson1@maryland.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Laura Johnson Collard, Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education


      Executive Director

      Address:
      3430 2nd Street
      Suite 300
      Baltimore Maryland 21225

      • Email: director@MAEOE.org
      • Phone: (410) 777-9530
      • Download VCard
    • Christopher Kemmerer, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources


      Education & Interpretation Section, Chief

      Address:
      P.O. Box 8551
      Bureau of State Parks
      Harrisburg Pennsylvania 17105

      • Email: chkemmerer@pa.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Steve Kerlin, Stroud Water Research Center


      Director of Education

      Address:
      970 Spencer Road
      Avondale Pennsylvania 19311-9514

      • Email: skerlin@stroudcenter.org
      • Download VCard
    • Bruce Lesh, Maryland State Department of Education


      Director of Social Studies, Science and Disciplinary Literacy

      Address:
      200 West Baltimore Street
      Baltimore Maryland 21201-2595

      • Email: bruce.lesh@maryland.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Melani Loney, Old Dominion University (ODU)


      Program Manager, Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Education Initiatives

      Address:
      Center for Environmental Partnerships
      4111 Monarch Way, Suite 406
      Norfolk Virginia 23508

      • Email: mloney@odu.edu
      • Download VCard
    • Victoria Lusk, Cacapon Institute


      Education & Outreach Coordinator

      Address:
      10 Rockford Rd
      Great Cacapon West Virginia 25422

      • Email: vlusk@cacaponinstitute.org
      • Download VCard
    • Candace Lutzow-Felling, University of Virginia


      Director of Education

      Address:
      Blandy Experimental Farm
      400 Blandy Farm Lane
      Boyce Virginia 22620

      • Email: lutzow-felling@virginia.edu
      • Download VCard
    • Grace Manubay, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education


      Environmental Literacy Coordinator

      Address:
      1050 First St NE
      Washington District of Columbia 20002

      • Email: grace.manubay@DC.GOV
      • Download VCard
    • Barbara McGuinness, U.S. Forest Service (USFS)


      Environmental Literacy Coordinator

      Address:
      Northern Research Station
      PO Box 267
      Irvine Pennsylvania 16329

      • Email: barbara.j.mcguinness@usda.gov
      • Phone: (814) 563-1040
      • Download VCard
    • Sarah McGuire, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (CBNERR) - Virginia


      Education Coordinator

      Address:
      Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Virginia Institute of Marine Science
      PO Box 1346
      Gloucester Point Virginia 23062

      • Email: mcguire@vims.edu
      • Phone: (804) 684-7878
      • Download VCard
    • Tonyea Mead, Delaware Department of Education


      Science Education Associate

      Address:
      Delaware Dept. of Education
      401 Federal Street, Suite 2
      Dover Delaware 19901

      • Email: tonyea.mead@doe.k12.de.us
      • Download VCard
    • Vince Meldrum, Earth Force


      President and CEO

      Address:
      135 Park Ave West
      Denver Colorado 80205

      • Email: vmeldrum@earthforce.org
      • Download VCard
    • Christen Miller, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

      Address:
      600 East Main Street, 24th Floor
      Richmond Virginia 23219

      • Email: Christen.Miller@dcr.virginia.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Karen Mullin, Chesapeake Bay Foundation


      Director of Professional Learning Team

      Address:
      Philip Merrill Environmental Center
      6 Herndon Avenue
      Annapolis, Maryland 21403 D Maryland 21403

      • Email: KMullin@cbf.org
      • Download VCard
    • Gilbert Myers, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection


      Environmental Education Specialist Program Supervisor

      Address:
      Rachel Carson State Office Building
      400 Market St.
      Harrisburg Pennsylvania 17101

      • Email: gimyers@pa.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Brittany Omoleye-Hall, National Park Service (NPS)


      Education Coordinator

      Address:
      National Park Service, Chesapeake Bay
      410 Severn Avenue, Suite 314
      Annapolis Maryland 21403

      • Email: brittany_omoleye-hall@nps.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Susan Parker, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection


      Youth Environmental Program

      Address:
      22288 Northwestern Pike
      Romney West Virginia 26757

      • Email: Susan.J.Parker@wv.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Tamara Peffer, Pennsylvania Department of Education


      Environment & Ecology Content Advisor

      Address:
      333 Market Street | 5th Floor
      Harrisburg Pennsylvania 17010

      • Email: tpeffer@pa.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Anne Petersen, Virginia Department of Education


      Science Coordinator

      Address:
      James Monroe Bldg, 101 N 14th St
      Richmond Virginia 23219

      • Email: Anne.petersen@doe.virginia.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Judd Pittman, Pennsylvania Department of Education


      Special Consultant to the Secretary of Education for STEM

      Address:
      Pennsylvania Department of Education
      333 Market Street
      Harrisburg Pennsylvania 17126

      • Email: c-jpittman@pa.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Ellen Powell, Virginia Department of Forestry

      Address:
      900 Natural Resources Drive
      Charlottesville Virginia 22903

      • Email: ellen.powell@dof.virginia.gov
      • Download VCard
    • David Pragoff, Delaware Nature Society


      School & Group Programs Team Leader

      Address:
      3511 Barley Mill Rd
      Hockessin Delaware 19707

      • Email: davidp@delnature.org
      • Download VCard
    • Frank Rodgers, Cacapon Institute


      Executive Director

      Address:
      Cacapon Institute
      10 Rock Ford Rd
      Great Cacapon West Virginia 25422

      • Email: frodgers@cacaponinstitute.org
      • Download VCard
    • Mark Scallion, Pickering Creek Audubon Center


      Center Director

      Address:
      11450 Audubon Ln
      Easton Maryland 21601

      • Email: Mark.Scallion@audubon.org
      • Download VCard
    • Trystan Sill, Maryland Department of Natural Resources


      Resiliency Education Coordinator, Center for Conservation Education and Stewardship

      Address:
      580 Taylor Avenue
      Annapolis Maryland 21401

      • Email: trystan.sill@maryland.gov
      • Phone: (410) 260-8827
      • Download VCard
    • Erin Sullivan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 3


      Environmental Protection Specialist

      Address:
      1650 Arch Street (3RA10)
      Philadelphia Pennsylvania 19103

      • Email: Sullivan.ErinC@epa.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Ariel Trahan, Anacostia Watershed Society


      Director of River Restoration Programs

      Address:
      The George Washington House
      4302 Baltimore Avenue
      Bladensburg Maryland 20710

      • Email: atrahan@anacostiaws.org
      • Phone: (301) 699-6204
      • Download VCard
    • Elise Trelegan, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office


      Chesapeake B-WET Program Coordinator

      Address:
      904 South Morris St.
      Oxford Maryland 21654

      • Email: elise.trelegan@noaa.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Betsy Ukeritis, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation


      Inter-Regional Environmental Educator

      Address:
      625 Broadway
      Albany New York 12233

      • Email: Betsy.ukeritis@dec.ny.gov
      • Download VCard
    • Coreen Weilminster, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - Maryland


      Education Coordinator

      Address:
      Tawes State Office Building
      580 Taylor Avenue, E-2
      Annapolis Maryland 21401

      • Email: cweilminster@dnr.state.md.us
      • Phone: (410) 260-8744
      • Download VCard
    • Kacey Wetzel, Chesapeake Bay Trust


      Director of Programs for Outreach & Education

      Address:
      108 Severn Ave.
      Annaoplis Maryland 21403

      • Email: kwetzel@cbtrust.org
      • Download VCard

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The Chesapeake Bay Program is a unique regional partnership that has led and directed the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay since 1983.

410 Severn Avenue Suite 112
Annapolis, MD 21403

Tel: (800) YOUR-BAY (968-7229)
Fax: (410) 267-5777

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